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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 13, 1906)
10 THE 3IORDix OREGOyiA" FRIDAY. APRIL A3, 1906. SES :IE BIG PROBLEM legislative Candidates Go on Recordjin Regard to- Them. " A IS NO PERPBTUAL RIGHT Time la Xow to Tut Suchr Graft Down and Out Is tlio View AVhlch Those "Wlio Seek domination Hold. . "The matter of corporate franchises will bo tho most' Important matter to foe con sidered at the coming cession of the Leg islature, and I 'bcllev.o .all Oregon Is as deeply interested -In the matter as Is Port land. The time is now at hand to put this franchise graft 'down and out,' " says V. A. Carter, of Benton County, who is a candidate for renomlnation for Represent ative from that county. Mr. Carter Is one of many candidates from whom letters were received by The Oregonlan yester day, declaring their opposition to perpet .ual franchises, their belief in the regula tion of rates to be charged by public-utility cornoratl&ns, the taxation of fran- .iIbcs and the enactment of a state law for the regulation of banks. Among the' others who took this position uion the issue that havp been drawn are: AV C. Chase, of Coos County; Park B. Realty, of Llnn; F. M. Brown, of Linn; Jcrome F Jones, of Marion; J. U. Camp bell, of Clackamas: Gilbert L. King, of Malheur; Bricc F. -Purdy. of -Washington, and J. E. Hedges, of Clackamas. Three In Doubt. There are three candidates for the leg islature, from whom letters were received vesterday. who seem to be doubtful whether a perpetual franchise can be re pealed. They think that -possibly becatise nonie City Council granted a franchise which was perpetual In its terms, that ac tion gives the 'corporation power to collect toll from the people by virtue of a gift from the people, from now until Gabriel blows his final blast. The three who are in doubt as to the right of the people to terminate such a franchise are: C. E. Sax. of Linn County: J. H. Bdwards. of Benton, and L. L Porter, of Clackamas. Mr Sox says: "If it can be done legally and With d.ue regard for the rights of in-u-jtiu parties. I would favor the repeal of mrpetua! franchises and the substitu tion of limited franchises." He evidently has more concern for the welfare of "In nocent" holders of franchises than he has for the innocent people who pay the tolls. Mr. Porter favors repeal "If it can .be done legally," and Mr. Edwards favors repot I "if It will not involve violation of a contract." In other respects these can didates announce a policy the same as that advocated by those whoso names are gh en in the list above. Mr. Sox says furrher upon the subject of franchises to toe -granted in the future: "I "believe every? city charter .should con taui a provision forbidding the granting of unlimited franchises. The most effect ive limitation which could be annexed to a franchise to a public-utility corporation, it seems to me, would be a provision re serving to tho city the right to purchase the iwoperty or plant of the corporation at recurring Intervals of ten or fifteen years at an appraised valuation, such ap praised valuation 'to contain no compen sation for compulsory purchase, good will or prospective profits. Such a provision would tend to keep the holder of the fran chise within bounds, and would enable the city, if desired, to lay a considerable tax upon the receipts or profits of the corpor ation for the privilege pf retaining the franchise." Cross Against Perpetual Franchises. Harvey E. Cross, of Clackamas County, Is not ow of those candidates who think possibly a franchise perpetual In its terms cannot' be repealed. He rathvr doubts whether such a franchise is in fact per prtual Hi letter setting forth his views iixm the subjects proposed .for an ex pression of his opinions says: "I do no; believe In the granting of per petual franchises in cities to corporations whose business it is to serve the people. This In the course of a little time will be .considered axiomatic Perpetual fran chises. If. Indeed, there arc any. should he repealed, and new ones granted with a reasonable time limit and safeguarded by wise icgulntlons fair to both the mu nicipality, andthe corporations- No .char-.. trV-sbpuldTperifitt)2 pclua1-.rancTe."' To Fix Charges. f"AsI understand the law, the Legisla ture hag power to pass a maximum rate billat'any time, applying to all public utility corporations both In state and. city. It is a'grcat, big question whether every Cltv- Council should have the authority to pass a, maximum rate bill for all pub lic utilities.' Give us a good and repre sentative City Council, and I say yes; but I can see without much trouble how tht jnembers pf corrupt Counc could fat ten off corporations, If given such author ity.'without .there should go along with the power the right of review by the courts to prevent -wrong and confisca tion. . "I believe the remedy for a great many of our present grievances will lie In the extension of municipal ownership to the greater public utilities. The trend or pub lic opinion in America is In that "direc tion, -and-.ultlmately all great cities wfil solve .these vexed questions In -that way. I believe In a state banking law. regu lated similar to the National banking act. and will heartily support such a' measure. All franchises should be taxed, and laws, where necessary should be passed to that effect, and I will gladly support any ade quate bill to that end. . Xot Fair Distribution. "The burdens of taxation are not evenly' distributed, not because the law Is lax. but because large Interests with great In fluence can protect themselves better than can individuals with but limited influence. One thing stands out with emphasis. In all this discussion: Oregon Is coming to the front, and ought to. Her wonderful material resources are now 'becoming ap preciated, and their exploitation. by indi viduals and corporations is very desir able. If we are to have "a greater Ore- bBIhe Legislative Candidates Go ' Recorchas Favoring Regulation. on OPP.OSE PERPETUALGRANTS Elmer B. ColrcII Declares lllmscir in Favor or Jmw Forbidding Street Hallways Exacting Deposits From Men. REGISTRATION' TO DATE. Reports concerning registration in the several, counties are still Incom plete. So far as learned, the registra tion Is as follow: Scat Rep. Iem. terlng. Baker 000 J.r.OO . "00 Benton 125 00 ITS Clackamas ... 3.200 800 MM Clatsop J.50S -2(53 410 Coos 1.835 .55T. "K Crook H31 S2C Douglas 2.!I7 . 1,165 3S0 Oram R(17 ' s "0 Jackson l.SOn J.400 ... Klamath "2. 573 Lake 38; 212 SO Lane 2.r. 1.344 MB Lincoln SC 211 107 Llnn ......... 1.S50 l.OOO :too Marlon 4.S27 1.SI1 Malheur 22 S04 48 Multnomah ..1C.344 3.tt5 1S5 Polk 1.391 710 200 Sherman ..... r.10 l.'.t 110 Vnion 1.773 1.107 Vtnatllla 2.0.'.0 .V 100 Wallowa 770 4S7 "Wasco ... 2.148 (113 Wheeler SOS 1C4 Yamhill 10W fcOO . 300 gon. we must extend a fair welcome to nil capital and -asure it of fair treatment and full protection. We want the cor porations with large capital to come, and we should and do extend a cordial and generous welcome. not to own us. but to work whh us on fair and honorable terms in the building of a great state. Willing to Express Views. Gilbert L. King, of Malheur County, ap proves of the course of The Oregonlan In giving candidates for the Legislature an opportunity to let the voters know whether they arc on the side of the cor porations, or on theislde of the people upon questions in which" the Mntcrcsts -of the two conflict. In his letter declaring his position, he says: "Unlike some w-ho are covetous of a position like the one to which 1 aspire that of Repreesntative and who are dis posed to regard the questions to which you desire an answer as" Impertinent, I believe your inquiry within the bounds of perfect propriety, and that the people whose suffrages we ask are entitled to know In advance what our sentiments are. and what, in caso of our nomination and election, would be our action In the event of those questions coming up for consideration before the Legislature. WOULD SUBSCRIBE TO FUND Commercial Club Jlccclvcs Offer From HiiblucbS Man of The Dalies. Manager Tom Richardson, of the Com mercial CIub received a letter yesterdav from .1. S. MacDonald. secretary and treasurer of The Dalles Business Mcn Association. In which he stated that If the Commercial Club were to erect huildlng he would subscribe $100. This Is regarded as evidence of the loyalty of tne people or urcgon to the Commercial Club. Mr. MacDonald Is employed by the association and wants to make a personal subscription. Ull "but four .Multnomah County Lcgis-. latlve candidates whose hopes are cen tered on the outcome of the primary elec tion on April 30 have expressed their views upon the subject of franchise leg islation. Charles Cleveland, of Gresham. and C J. Llttlepage, of Troutdale. be cause Tho Orcconlan yesterday was un able to reach them by long-distance tele- phone, have not been interviewed. 2am uci Connell and A. A. Ballcy will be seen today. " ' Tiot a legislative candidate has stood out against legislative action against the granting of perpetual franchises. AH arc in favor of niacins: a limit and taxation upon franchises, the repeal of perpetual" franchises and the enactment or a jaw that will place state and private banking institutions under a law similar to the .National banking act. If the successful- candidates who receive tho nomination or! tne primaries stand by the views tncy have expressed In "the columns of The. Oregonlan, a swan song has been sung .on the granting of valuable perpetual franchises. So. too. will end the free handed gifts of City Councils of fran chises to rich corporations. If the law makers keep their pledges, corporations' applying for franchises will have to pur chase them os they would any other com modity that they wish to use In their business. Some of them were of the opin ion that the reforms suggested in the questions asked did -not go far enough, and declared that. If elected In June, they would be. among the first to Introduce bills regulating franchises. E. BColwcll's Stand. Elmer B. Colwell. if elected, will do even- more than lake an active part In enact ing franchise legislation. He would pass a measure prohibiting street railway com panies from demanding from their em ployes sums ranging from 122 to 523. When seen yesterday Mr. Colwell said: "I favor the repeal of all perpetual fran chises, and I favor taxation of franchises. I favor municipal control of franchises, and will vote for a law regulating state and private banks. I am also in favor of a law that will prohibit street railroad 1 companies from exacting from their em ployes $22 or $25, or other amounts. If ' a street railway company canon t trust Jta employes It 'should compel them to give a surety bond, and the company should be compelled to pay the expenses of that bond.! r Robert-.W. Wilson, candidal for Rep resentative, is opposed to the granting of perpetual franchises. On the question of perpetual franchises, he says: "I believe in the immediate repeal of perpetual franchises, which are obnoxious by reason of the nature of their opera tions, but I believe the governing body in power in the premises should use Its own Judgment about even substituting limited franchises in lieu thereof. Regarding the control of state and pri vate banks, he adds: "I hope to have the honor of voting for such a bill, and will support a reasonable measure for such a law;" C. X. McArlliur on Franchises. C. X. McArthur. candidate for Rep resentative, said: "If elected to the Legislature. I will strive by every honor able means within my power to secure the passage of legislation that will redeem every pledge I have made to the people of this county. I will vote for the repeal of all existing perpetual franchises, and I will also vote for a bill that" will vest in municipalities the right to own and con trol all franchises of public utilities. These franchises should be made a source of In come to municipalities. "I am heartily in favor of a state bank ing law and the creation of the office of State Bank Examiner.- I -also favor a law which will provide for the payment into the state treasury of all Interest received from deposits or loans of state futid& T shall Yavor the enactment of laws plachtg the State" Printer oir at"t salary, reduc ing the number of normal schools and for the working of convicts on puMic roads. "I shall oppose all extravagant legisla tion and 'graft. and shall work for the best Interests of the -people ofMu4tiBab. County. R. EL L. Simmons, candidate for Repre sentative, said: "I am willing to go right down th'e line with The Oregonlan on the franchise question. Xo perpetual fran chises for me. Corporations that want valuable franchises from a city should be compelled to pay for them. "They arc an asset and are scld as such, and In my opinion should be taxed. A law looking to the control of state and private banks, similar to the National banking act will also get my vote if I am elected, and 1 hope I shall be," I. A. MacPlicrsOB.'s.lMatform. . "If I am nominated and elected. said P. A. MacPherson. candidate for Repre sentative, "I will, during my term of of fice, vote for the person receiving the highest number of Republican votes for United States .Senator. I am In favor or nominations for all officers - by a direct vote of the people. 1 am in favor of an eight-hour law eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep and eight hours for recreation. I favor Irrevocably for the benefit of the laboring people. I favor a tax on the gross earnings of corporations. I favor a 3-cent car fare for school chil dren and laboring people, from the hours of C to 9 A. M., and from 12 to 2- (noon hour) and from 5 to 7 P. M. I favor municipal ownership of public utilities. I favor the enactment of a law compell ing street railway companies to furnish scats for passengers before collecting fares. I will vote against -graft" of every kind and nature. I favor a law controll ing fraternal insurance orders as well as all other insurance companies. L J. MacMahon, in his platform already announced, strikes the keynote of the franchise question when he says: "I favor the control of public franchises by the people." n.'S. PEN'S n Contention as to Statement Number 1." ANSWERS SENATOR FULTON CONTROL PUBLIC UTILITIES Dlt. JAMES WlTHYCe.MBE GIVES HIS POSITIOX. Would Tax All Ilcvcnuc-ProducIiiK Property Tangible and In tangible, in the State. "The people should, and I believe will, demand the proper control of 'all public utilities," says Dr. James tVlthycombc. of Corvallis, who seeks the Republican nomination for Governor. "Every revenue-producing property, physical or Ituau gible, should be made to bear Its Just share or the burdens of taxation." This expression of his views was given In an Interview' yesterday while Dr. Withy combe was In Portland on his return from a visit to a number of Eastern Orecon cities; where , he went In the Interest of his candidacy. He leaves today for Cor vallis, where he will remain the greater portion of the time from now until the primary election. In the course of his conversation upon the subject of fran chises.. Dr. Wllbycombe said: "My views on the franchise question are certainly well known. 1 think the record will show, that 1 am the first Re publican candidate who publicly declared in favor of the taxation of franchises and a tax upon the gross earnings of other public utilities. "1 firmly believe In the soundness of this policy, but on the other hand I would not by any means support measures that were unfair to those interests. Our pres ent system of taxation Is faulty. Tan gible property, such as farms, livestock, homes pf people of modest means, are heavily assessed, while Intangible prop erties, which frequently yield large rev enues, often escape taxation. The people should, and I believe will, demand the proper control of all public utilities. "Every revenue-producing property, tangible or intangible, should be made to bear its Just share of the burdens of taxation. An equitable adjustment of the taxation problem should bring from In tangible properties, which now practically escape taxation. Just annual revenues to th state. "In the free discussion of theo prob lems of taxation we must be careful not to create the Impression that there is a general sentiment of hostility to capital In this state. This would indeed be un fortunate, for we have immense unde veloped natural wealth In this slate that will require large capital for its exploita tion. We should employ every honorable means to Induce capital to come Into the state. The greatest boon to any com munity is a large payroll, but without capital there would be no paitIl. Oregon City. Or. ( Special. 1 James it. Melton. In a divorce salt, charges Ola X Melton with desertion. They were married In this cocnlr In November. 1M4. The de sertion coiaDlalned of la alleged to hare taken place lau month. . Maintains Thai It Should Be Taken Literally and That the. Party la Power Should Follow Vote of People. That the people of Oregon may de sire to elect a member of one political party to tho United States Senate, and elect a Legislature composed of 'mem bers of another party, the same as they sometimes elect a Governor from a party other than that of which the Legislature Is composed. Is the conten tion which W, S. lRen. of Oregon City, makes In nnswer to a. recent statement from Senator Fulton explaining- his view of the statement Xo. 1 provision of the direct-primary law. He urges that the people have a con stitutional right to Instruct their members of the Legislature, and that the popular vote upon United States Senator Is such nn instruction. AV. S. V'Jtcrt's. Contention. - Tn speaking; of Scnator&Fulton's in terview. Mr. U'Rcn said: Senator Fulton Kattnient on the direct primary law and Statement No. 1 In bun. Sunday's Oregonlan i clearly a public anawcr to a letter 1 tnt him and therefore I beg of you apace to reply. If Senator ration had read section 11 of the primary law he would not hare stated that each party may hare more. than one can didate for t'nlted States Senator under the Mays law at the general "election tn June. Section II expressly provide that "every po litical party and Its regularly nominated can dldate. members and .'oaiecn. shall hare the sole and exdustre right to the cae of the rarty same and 'the whole thereof, and no candidate for office shall be permitted to use any word of the name of any other solltleal party or orrantzatloa than, of that by which he Is nominated. No Independent or non partisan candidate shall be permitted to uae any word of the name of any existing political party or organization In his candidacy. and the Mays law li'aubjeet to this provision. "WlnU'Was Intent? Senator Pufloa'a position Is the Mme as Judge Loweir. They agree that the language of the law Is o plain that It can have 'but one meaalnr; bat they say the people could not have Intended to take to themselre the power to choose a Lectslature of one political party and a united States Senator if a dif ferent political party at the mme election, theoxb they hive, and sometimes use. that power in choosJnr Governors and Legislatures In .Ore con. Custom makes -all Presidential electors obey the Instructions of their political I-arlles as expressed In their con Ten lions. The primary law ws enacted by the people of Oregon to compel the members of the Legis lature to obey the Instructions of the people of Ore son a expressed by their vote at the general elections In June. Neither Senator Fulton nor Judge Lowell questions the consti tutional right of the people to Instruct their x&embera of the Legislature, and they do not deny that Statement No. 1 Is a lawful and constitutional Instruction by the people, and agreement by the would-be member of the Legislature that he will obey the Instruction of his master, the people of Oregon, as ex Dressed at the Juse election. Says Fulton Is Inconsistent. Senator Fulton and Judge Lowell both My they will submit their claims to the people and retire if they are rejected by the people. In this they are Inconsistent: they should promise to retire If a Democratic Legislature Is elected. Suppose Senator Fulton should be nominated by the Republicans In 19uS and chosen by the people, and that at the same time the 'people should choone a Democratic Legislature; would Senator Fulton voluntarily withdraw and say to the Democratic Legis lature. "Tou must elect a Democratic Senator; It Is true, the people voted for me, but If they had Intended I should be Senator they would have elected a Republican Legislature" 7 The people do not do rain things. If they bad not Intended to choose the Senator them selves they would 'not have provided that he should be roted for at the general election In June, and tsotead of making Statement No. 1 read that the would-be member of the Legis lature promises to "always vote for that can didate for United States Senator in Con gress who has received the highest number of the people'a vote." they would hare made It read. "Promises to always vote for that can didate of my political party for United Stales Senator who receive the highest number of vote of my political party at the primary flection In April." But how many people in Oregon Would tote for naeb a law as that; Both Senator Fulton and Judge Lowell are HARRY MURPHY SPENDS A DAY CHUMMING WITH THE CANDIDATES. &z jLm ffimn b.i mbxm mzjzs i m KKU HHH'" " ' .BBBBK T tVWTVVT V4 rC rTBW BBBBBBB BBBBBf Srrf f . HCfttytt, .c?isx -a rAvA.V.r-t v-AVA"-1 ON -T.S eOir. TA3rv rCtK- u ' TWO STYLES of springover coats the Covert oversack as illustrated or the 46-inch, ' shaped-back, fly-front Chesterfield: in black, gmy. or oxford soft-finish goods. You yill find either style at its best under the Cheny Tree label, with a set and hang that spell Kirschbaum,' "the greatest overcoat house in America." Ask for Kirschbaum Clothes (Warranted). Good stores everywhere, $12 to $30. (Lock for label) Vear the Eastern Styles. ' A." B.' Kirschbaum 8c Co. (Makers) " Philadelphia and New York still so greatly Influenced by party prejudice that the party machine and the party Itself neern to them the same thing. They cannot yet understand that the people Intended by the primary law to sare the political parties and destroy the power of all political machines. Including- the Republican machine. But Mr. Cake and his trust supporters know better. "While they are doing nothing- to enforce the Statement No. 1 agreement, they are working with all their power to get the Republican nomination for 'Mr. Cake In April, and the highest number of the people's votes for lilm In June. They are wise enough to take ad vantage of the law and get their candidate choeen by the people. If possible. 1 speak of Mr. Cake as the candidate of the trusts because I believe It Is .true. .His ap pearance and argument In the Supreme Court of Oregon, as attorney for the Standard Oil Company in the case of the Standard Oil Com pany vs. Bayard. Superior Court Report, vol ume S3, page 43); the enthusiastic and urgent lettem In his favor sent to retail merchant all over Oregon by a. few wholesale houses in Portland who handle large quantities o trust goods, and Anally the discbarge of Mr. McCann by the Portland Chamber of Commerce for telling the truth about Mr. Cake, prove very clearly thai he Is the favorite candidate of the great Standard Oil. sugar, beef and tu bacco trusts. Blodgett Murder Trial. The trial of Geor;?e J31odgett. for .Jin murder of Alice Minth6rn. whose stage name w-aq Alice Gordcn. is set to begin today in the State Circuit Courts 316ds ctt shot and killed the woman In the- Van "Soy lodging-house, at Third and Pine streets. In aflt of jealous rase. His at torney, Charles P. Lord, will endeavor to convince the Jury that his client was tem porarily Insane at the time he committed the crime, and Mr. Lord says the case for the defense will be of an interesting character. The prosecution will have no trouble proving .the killing because Blodg ett has confessed. THE COLORS OF THE LILY Hazelwood has prepared a special Easter brick Ice cream; colors sreeh, white and yellow, flavors p'lstiichlo, vanilla and lemon. This beautiful and tasty dessert, Is made In the Hazelwood way, from the purest, richest cream and fla vored and colored with natural fruit and nut Juices fresh and whole some. . ICE CREAM Other soccials for the day Krcs'a Strawberry Ice Cream -Made from this season's fresh, ripe strawberries. A foretaste of Sum mer's most delightful berry. Macaroon Ice Cream This favor ite at its best, made up in thc-Haze!.-wood" way. embodying superlative quality and scrupulous cleanliness' and purity. ' These Easter specials on sale to day, tomorrow and Sunday at tho price of slain. Ice cream. i . Faur-iianrt brlrka. . , . .f llfl TiTo-qHurt brlclot. .. f. .Jlt.OO ! Quart .'. t. .86 1- t v iJS-r '4:- ICE CREAM f HONE EXCHANGE 40 Qtimt Early fer DeKyery ToAiy, To- a bbbmK. bbbbbbV .in Jv v t. ls bTbTbW) W M A I -m. . rf T IP1 . , V M I i r i